PG-13 Movie Trailers Directed at Kids

The Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) is the children's arm of the advertising industry's self-regulation program and evaluates child-directed advertising and promotional material in all media to ensure that advertising is appropriate for the target audience. If you notice an ad that is directed at children and seems inappropriate, you can make a complaint via the CARU website.

CARU has recently sent movie trailers for PG-13 movies to the MPAA for review. CARU does not believe that PG-13 films should be advertised to children under 12; however, the head of the MPAA Rating Board, Joan Graves, has said that no such line should be drawn. So, CARU now sends the movie trailers to the MPAA on a case by case basis to determine if the ads are appropriate to direct toward kids under 12 -- like airing them on Nickelodeon, for example.

Some examples of movie trailers recently in question are The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. These super hero movies have really blurred the line of what is appropriate for kids. Having super hero subject matter seems to make it OK that there is violence and language that would normally be unacceptable. The toys advertising these movies have been given to kids in kids' meals at fast food restaurants. Do you think these movie trailers should be shown during programming directed toward kids? You can post your opinion using the "comments" link below, and contact the MPAA and let them know what you think.